11 Jan Prop 8 Defense Relieved, for Now

The Supreme Court has entered an interim order that will bar real-time streaming of the Prop 8 trial to other federal courthouses and YouTube. The order will last until Wednesday. Till then, the Supreme Court will be deciding whether or not to make the ban permanent.

This is assuaging news for pro-family litigants who fear the potential persecution that may come from the trial.

Hak-Shing William Tam, who played a crucial role in qualifying Proposition 8 for ballot in 2009 and is one of the official litigants that planned on defending Proposition 8, has already asked to be removed from the case.

“In the past I have received threats on my life,” Tam said. “(I) had my property vandalized and am recognized on the streets due to my association with Proposition 8.” He continued, “Now that the subject lawsuit is going to trial, I fear I will get more publicity, be more recognizable and that the risk of harm to me and my family will increase.”

Tam’s request to leave the trial did not mention the judge’s recent decision to broadcast the trial. But certainly it wouldn’t help with the prospects of persecution.